Oxford United beat Sunderland in their last home game of the season this afternoon to ensure that they will be playing Championship football again in 2025/26.
It was the central defenders who scored the goals that guaranteed safety from relegation, with Leicester City loanee Ben Nelson putting the U's ahead in the 29th minute and Michał Helik getting the winner in the 48th minute from close range.
Gary Rowett made four changes to the side that drew at Cardiff City on Monday, with Sam Long regaining his place following the birth of his daughter that morning. Greg Leigh started in place of Joe Bennett in the opposite full-back position and Rúben Rodrigues started in midfield in place of Alex Matos. Mark Harris came back into the side with Tom Bradshaw dropping to the bench.
United started with intent and won the game's first corner with less than 30 seconds on the clock, and the second 20 seconds later.
In the sixth minute Cameron Brannagan, on the edge of the area, had an opportunity to let fly and it required an excellent save from Anthony Patterson to divert the ball over the bar. From the corner Sunderland broke at pace through Wilson Isidor and it needed a fully alert Helik to intervene.
Sunderland gradually grew into the game and one free kick required some acrobatics from Will Vaulks to clear the ball from under the bar.
United kept going forward and took the lead in the 29th minute from a set piece. Vaulks floated the ball into the area and Nelson rose highest to steer the ball past Patterson for his first United goal.
The second half was just two minutes old when the U's extended their lead. Tyler Goodrham was brought down just outside the Sunderland area and, who else, Brannagan fired in the free kick. Patterson did well to get down to the shot but the ball fell kindly for Helik to smash home from close range and give Oxford some breathing space.
Two minutes later, Vaulks nicked the ball inside the Oxford half and spotted Patterson off his line, but his long-range lob drifted wide. Przemysław Płacheta was then sent clear by Rodrigues but with just Patterson to beat he screwed his shot wide.
On the hour mark United had a let off when Chris Rigg was unmarked in the United penalty area and he headed Enzo Le Fée's cross against the post with Cumming beaten.
There were a few nervous moments going into the six minutes stoppage time as Sunderland put some pressure on United and sent over a couple of dangerous corners, Cumming pushing one over the bar, but United dealt well with everything Sunderland tried to throw at them.
The final whistle was greeted with huge cheers by the crowd, that had been in full voice throughout. There's still one game of the season remaining, at Swansea City next Saturday, but it's a game that Oxford can approach with no fear, safety assured for another season.
UNITED: Cumming, Long (ter Avest 79), Vaulks, Płacheta (Phillips 73), Brannagan, Harris (Bennett 88), Nelson, Goodrham, Rodrigues (Matos 73), Leigh (Moore 88), Helik
Unused subs: Ingram, McEachran, Romeny, Mills
Attendance: 11,431 (including 1,514 from Sunderland)
Fifty/50 draw: Ticket number 57628 wins £1,890
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds
